Lake Taupo Residents Get Say On Future of Lake

Environment Waikato today released its Protecting
Lake Taupo strategy, for public discussion and
feedback.

The Protect Lake Taupo Strategy has been
prepared in response to public concern about declining lake
water quality. Scientific studies show that the Lake’s water
quality is declining as a result of increased nitrogen
loading in the Lake.

Before land around the Lake was
developed, only very low concentrations of nitrogen entered
the Lake from rain and areas of bush. Over the last 40-50
years, the change to more intensive land uses and urban
growth around the Lake has increased the amount of nitrogen
entering the Lake.

The proposed Plan aims to reduce the
amount of nitrogen entering the lake by 20 per cent over the
next 15 years. The changes could cost as much as $83.5
million in today’s dollars.

Announcing the Protect Lake
Taupo strategy, Environment Waikato Chairman Neil Clarke
said the economic future of the Taupo district was largely
based on the Lake’s national and international appeal as a
recreational and tourist attraction.

“We have seen the
disastrous effects of increased nutrient loading on other
lakes in the country. Our plan is to take action now to
ensure that the high water quality of Lake Taupo is
protected. Any delay will only make the job harder, longer
and more expensive.”

The Plan proposes a range of
planning, economic and lifestyle measures to reduce nitrogen
inputs into the lake. These include:

new ways
of using land in rural areas that produce low levels of
nitrogen

conducting research into alternative,
low-nitrogen land uses in rural areas.

These proposals
would be supported by a fund established through a
partnership between the Regional Council, District Council
and Central Government. Mr Clarke said there was a
commitment by the three partners to help fund the transition
process, but we still need to decide the fairest allocation
of these costs.

“This strategy breaks new ground. There
is no single answer, no silver bullet, to save the Lake. It
requires the support of all stakeholders.”

Mr Clarke
acknowledged that the cost of change will affect most
stakeholders in the catchment. Although many of the
stakeholders agree with the principles in the strategy,
there is not yet agreement on what is a fair and equitable
sharing of the burden of change.

“There is clearly going
to be some discussion around land use restrictions and how
they should be supported. We welcome the community’s views
on this matter. “

“We will continue discussions over the
next couple of months to identify the fairest way to share
the costs between district, Regional and national
contributions. But we do recognise that Lake Taupo is a
national treasure which we all have a stake in.”

Mr Clarke
said that Environment Waikato wanted to get community
feedback on the proposals. Following that feedback
Environment Waikato and Taupo District Council would publish
their draft Long-Term Council Community Plans in March that
would contain specific proposals to achieve the outcomes.
Formal submissions can then be made on these draft plans and
funding proposals.

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